Medical Technology

The Medical Technology program prepares students for careers in many high demand areas of science. Recent program graduates are employed as clinical diagnostic scientists in hospital, forensic, industrial and biotechnology laboratories; as clinical research scientists in biomedical research facilities; and as sales representatives for pharmaceutical, medical instrumentation and computer corporations. Students typically have obtained jobs within their discipline by the time they graduate; in many cases, they have job offers several months prior to graduation.

The program is recommended for students wishing to prepare for careers as clinical diagnostic scientists in hospital, forensic, industrial and biotechnology laboratories, and as sales representatives for pharmaceutical, medical instrumentation and computer companies. The curriculum requires the student to study three years at Fredonia and one year in an accredited clinical hospital program. Contracted agreements with three hospitals allow internship placement for qualified students who have successfully completed university requirements. Entrance to the clinical program is highly competitive, and generally requires a minimum 3.0 science GPA, strong letters of recommendation, and interviews. The clinical year consists of study in a hospital laboratory where students are supervised and instructed by medical technologists and physicians. After successful completion of the internship, students receive clinical certification from the hospital, 30 university credits, and the B.S. degree with a major in Medical Technology from Fredonia. Students are then eligible to take the Board of Registry exam given by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. Passage of the exam results in national board certification. Graduates are also eligible for licensure through the N.Y.S. Education Department Office of the Professions. The only individuals able to work as Medical Technologists in N.Y.S. hospitals are those who have received a B.S. degree in Medical Technology and have obtained N.Y.S. licensure.

The Fredonia Medical Technology program is approved as licensure qualifying by the New York State Department of Education and is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and the American Medical Associate Council on Health Education. Not all Medical Technology programs in N.Y.S. hold this licensure status and accreditation.

The percentage of Fredonia Medical Technology students passing the Board of Registry Examination on the first attempt has been 97 percent over the past 10 years, compared to a national passage rate of only 76 percent. Under affiliation agreements entered into by the university, the training of students during the senior clinical internship takes place at the following hospitals under the supervision of clinical Program Directors:

Michele Harms, M.S., MT (ASCP), Program Director, Medical Technology Program, WCA Hospital, Jamestown, N.Y., Courtesy Faculty, State University of New York at Fredonia.

Stephen Johnson, M.S., MT (ASCP), Program Director, Medical Technology Program, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Erie, P.A., Courtesy Faculty, State University of New York at Fredonia.

Nancy Mitchell, M.S., MT (ASCP), Program Director, School of Medical Technology, Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, N.Y., Courtesy Faculty, State University of New York at Fredonia.

Students wishing to apply to other accredited internship programs may do so upon advisement.

Requirements for Transfer Credit

The Medical Technology program requires students to complete 60 credit hours of biology courses. Students are expected to complete at least half of the biology courses at Fredonia. Additional credit hours transferred may be used as general electives toward graduation. As a rule, the department will not accept as equivalent for upper level courses, credit earned at two-year colleges.